Socialist Party USA

[Pretty Flaco]

Does anybody know much about SPUSA? I have two close friends who were thinking of joining the party and from what I've read, the party seems to be legit. I'm cautious of it because I wasn't sure whether or not it was like the CPUSA, which I've only heard shit of.

Is SPUSA a good socialist party for American's to join? Can anybody give me a little unbiased info about it?

[The Red Next Door]

It having some problems at the moment, but chegitz and co are taking care of the problems that need to be dealt with. but you should joining, because they really need help with taking the party back from power hungry social democratic opportunists. so tell your friends to join so, they can help our spusa comrades take the party back. from people like Brian Moore. Also it Multi tendency, which is good, if you like mixing with other people with different tendencies. I have hope for the SPUSA and i hope the revolutionaries in spusa win the fight for democracy and the revolutionary credentials of the party.

[Zeus the Moose]

Does anybody know much about SPUSA? I have two close friends who were thinking of joining the party and from what I've read, the party seems to be legit. I'm cautious of it because I wasn't sure whether or not it was like the CPUSA, which I've only heard shit of.

Is SPUSA a good socialist party for American's to join? Can anybody give me a little unbiased info about it?

There are a few SP-USA members on RevLeft. I'm one of them, so is chegitz guevara and revy. I think there a few others who aren't as active. So if you want to PM questions to any of us, we'd be happy to answer.

As for as the general character of the Socialist Party goes, Maoist kid has it about right. We're a multi-tendency party, with revolutionary socialists making up at least a plurality of active members if not a majority. However, there's been tension in the organisation with members of the SP right wing in important public positions (co-chair and editor of the newspaper), which, coupled with the SP right's casual attitude towards democratic functioning has lead to some problems. Basically everyone you will find on RevLeft, however, is on the revolutionary wing of the SP, so that's the side you'll be getting on here.

We do have a local in Indianapolis, but my impression of it is that many of the members lean social-democratic, and aren't revolutionaries. Still, you should try to get in touch with them to go to a meeting and see what they're like, if you're interested in joining.

And no, we're not like the CPUSA. While our positions on independent politics waver in practise a little bit (ie, uncritical support of the Howie Hawkins campaign by the SPNY, and the problems we have with our previous presidential candidate), we do advocate and engage in independent socialist political action, which is one of the main differences between us and the CPUSA.

[x359594]

As Maoist kid noted the SPUSA is a multi-tendency party. Thre's a significant number of Wobblies who are Party members. What your experience will be like depends on the nature of the local you're thinking of joining.

[chegitz guevara]

What the three previous posts said. :thumbup1:

I will note that the Indy local hold joint meetings with DSA. So politically, they represent the right-most politics you'll find in the SPUSA. I think they could use some revolutionaries. :D

[Red Commissar]

I don't want to hijack this thread, but out of curiosity what is the makeup of the SPUSA branch in Texas like Chegitz?

[Stephen Colbert]

http://www.revleft.com/vb/sp-usa-t138131/index.html

[Pretty Flaco]

Thanks a lot guys: I'm definitely going to be joining with my friends. :redstar2000:

[chegitz guevara]

I don't want to hijack this thread, but out of curiosity what is the makeup of the SPUSA branch in Texas like Chegitz?

To say that there's a branch in Texas is playing loose with the term. It's not terribly active.

One of the comrades used to post here, and he's definitely a rev. He's the chair of the People of Color Commission. I think he's also state chair. That would be chicanorojo (http://www.revleft.com/vb/member.php?u=14891) from revleft, though he hasn't posted in a year and a half.

From what I gather, the SPTX is all over the place. We got commies and we even got one guy who is violating party rules by being on the board of some county Democratic Party.

[Zeus the Moose]

Thanks a lot guys: I'm definitely going to be joining with my friends. :redstar2000:

Depending on your time schedule, you could get a crash course in the SP by coming to our National Organizing Conference next weekend (http://socialistparty-usa.org/2010conference/index.html) I know it's a bit of a longshot, but I'd figure I'd throw it out there.

EDIT: also, the folks I know from Indianapolis are on the older side, probably in their fifties at least. So depending on how old you and your friends are, you there might be a bit of an age gap. Hopefully it shouldn't matter (nationally, a number of active members are in their 20s; I went to my first national convention as an alternate delegate when I was 17.)

[Red Commissar]

To say that there's a branch in Texas is playing loose with the term. It's not terribly active.

One of the comrades used to post here, and he's definitely a rev. He's the chair of the People of Color Commission. I think he's also state chair. That would be chicanorojo (http://www.revleft.com/vb/member.php?u=14891) from revleft, though he hasn't posted in a year and a half.

From what I gather, the SPTX is all over the place. We got commies and we even got one guy who is violating party rules by being on the board of some county Democratic Party.

Figures. I was looking at different branches and noticed the listing for one in Texas, and I was wondering how they would be holding up considering the political landscape in Texas. I have my answer.

[chegitz guevara]

Can always try and take things into your own hands. The name and history of the SP carries a certain weight in organizing.